In an interview with Kyodo News on December 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that his country’s army does not have the strength to fully reclaim occupied territories, including Crimea, through military action alone.
He stated that diplomacy will be needed to end the conflict but only when Ukraine is strong enough to stop future Russian aggression.
“Our army lacks the strength to do that. That is true,” Zelenskyy said. “We do have to find diplomatic solutions.”
He explained that Ukraine will need to use diplomacy after gaining more military support and security guarantees, such as NATO membership. Zelenskyy urged NATO to speed up talks to help ensure Ukraine’s long-term safety.
Zelenskyy thanked countries like Japan, the United States, South Korea, and many European nations for supporting Ukraine with sanctions and aid. However, he said more help is needed to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses as Russian forces continue their attacks in the east.
“Support from our partners is not enough,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy also expressed concern about Russia deploying 12,000 North Korean soldiers to the Kursk region. He warned that these troops could be used as “cannon fodder” and might return to North Korea with advanced military training, creating new threats in Asia.
To keep attention on Ukraine’s fight, Zelenskyy recently agreed to appear on a three-hour podcast with Lex Fridman, a well-known host who focuses on politics, science, and culture.
